Bury St Edmunds-based GeeWizz charity announces closure after raising more than £2 million
A charity which has raised more than £2 million to help children and young people across Suffolk has announced it will close.
Bury St Edmunds-based GeeWizz Charitable Foundation will shut at the end of its financial year, while continuing to fund projects it has committed to support in 2023-24.
The decision has been made due to family priorities of CEO Aileen Belsberg and founder Gina Long's intention to semi-retire to provide time and flexibility for her own family, other charity campaigning and projects she is passionate about.
Gina said: "Since launching in October 2015, I and the team have been immensely proud of all that GeeWizz has achieved, with the incredible hard work and dedication of our chairman, trustees, ambassadors, our small in-house team, wonderful volunteers, including Susan Rush who has been with us since day one and, above all, our incredibly generous supporters, donors and sponsors.
"We remain indebted for all of the media support we have received in helping us spread the word."
GeeWizz has raised more than £2 million and delivered numerous life-enhancing projects for children and young people, across Suffolk, with special educational needs, high dependency disabilities, life-limiting illness and cancer.
For personal reasons, the charity has also supported Sarcoma UK by funding vital research into bone and soft tissue cancer.
Gina said: "For over seven years, I have never ceased to be truly overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of all the individuals and companies who so readily and generously gave their support in abundance."
Among her highlights were the popular pumpkin patch and The Ed Sheeran: ‘Made in Suffolk’ Legacy Auction’ which raised £506,000.
Proceeds from the auction along with Guy Nicholls, Tru7 Group’s £100,000 donation and groundworks in kind, funded the redevelopment of new playgrounds for SEND pupils at The Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy in Ipswich, as well as an outreach programme and palliative care for young people with life-limiting illness through Zest (part of the St Elizabeth Hospice family).
Other projects supported included Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds SENsory Youth Theatre programme and Bury Disability Football Club.
The charity has purchased equipment for schools and colleges across the county including sensory magic carpets; hearing aids, their battery chargers and school sound systems; an accessible music pod at Sir Robert Hitcham Primary in Framlingham and an ‘Everyday Living Flat’ at West Suffolk College, Minden House.
GeeWizz has also supported local families by funding several house renovations to enable disability access; vital bespoke equipment including wheelchairs, portable hoists, custom-made electric beds, and car seats; assistance with petrol costs for hospital visits, and day to day expenses, as well as funding hydrotherapy and physiotherapy sessions for many years.
“It is a natural moment for GeeWizz to close on a happy and proud note, having created and delivered highly successful fundraising initiatives and having given life-enhancing support to children, young people and families across Suffolk,” added Gina.
“It has been a great honour, one which I shall reflect upon with much gratitude and affection, as I enter a new chapter in my life."
